The bipartisan proposal would create a new federal database designed to provide more information about colleges and universities to prospective students, but would boost data collection requirements and could face an uphill climb in Congress.

A bill to reauthorize the federal law governing career- and technical-education programs has been introduced and will soon be considered in the House education committee chaired by Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C.

The federal aid set asides can be used for direct student services and teacher and principal development, but they're not proving particularly popular among states that have submitted ESSA plans so far.